Anyone who remembers what happened to Pakistani players after they lost to India in World Cup 1996 Quarterfinals knows how ugly Pakistani fans could be.
As soon as Pakistan lost to India on March 9, 1996, fans in Pakistan smashed TV sets (a common sight every time India beat Pakistan in a cricket match), a college student fired a hail of bullets from a Kalashnikov into his TV set and then on himself, another fan died of a heart attack, captain Wasim Akram (who couldn’t play a match due to injury) received death threats, and a cleric said Pakistan would never win at cricket so long as a woman – Benazir Bhutto was the prime minister – ruled the country. Even the plane carrying the players had to be diverted to Karachi as irate fans waited in Lahore carrying expletive-laced banners and rotten eggs.
On Sunday in yet another World Cup clash, India comfortably won the game against Pakistan at The Old Trafford. This time Pakistani Twitter erupted into hilarious, self-deprecating jokes. Many found it amusing, and some even called it a victory for Pakistan off the field and how Pakistani fans won the heart while India won the match. People believed the fans have changed for good.
However, they have missed the real side of Pakistani fans. They have been very offensive to their team’s performance in this tournament. Booing and calling names inside the stadium has become a common thing for Pakistani fans.
In the below video shared by a Pakistani fan, Sarfaraz Ahmed been trolled by their fans saying ‘Sarfaraz Mota, toss jeet kar batting kyu nahi li, inhone ne Imran Khan ki bhi nahi suni, apni PM ki bhi nahi sunte to kya kare hum’ which translates into ‘Fat guy Sarfaraz, why didn’t you bat after winning the toss, they didn’t listen to Imran Khan, they don’t even listen to their PM, what can we say’?
Crowd trolling Pakistani captain.? pic.twitter.com/YZMaGMs4bt
— Extremist ?? (@hardcorefeminst) June 17, 2019
According to thenews.com.pk, Sarfaraz Ahmed warned his teammates that all of them would be returning home after the World Cup, and he wouldn’t be alone in facing the wrath of the public if Pakistan continued to disappoint.
The trolling didn’t end up on the ground, some of them blamed Sania Mirza on social media for the poor performance of the Pakistan team. Sania celebrated India’s victory against South African and Australia in the World Cup. This has irked many Pakistani supporters and even celebrities.
Sania Mirza’s reply to Pakistani actress Veena Malik has won the hearts of many from both sides of the border.
Veena,I hav not taken my kid to a sheesha place. Not that it’s any of your or the rest of the world’s business cause I think I care bout my son a lot more than anyone else does 🙂 secondly I am not Pakistan cricket team’s dietician nor am I their mother or principal or teacher https://t.co/R4lXSm794B
— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) June 17, 2019
The normal fans were also too harsh on players, especially on Shoaib and Sania. Some called Sania an Indian spy and even demanded public hanging. It must be so hard for players to cope with such kind of comments.
We demand public hanging of shoaib malik as he is a traitor.
How come sania mirza is allowed in pak cric team camp.Even though she is wife of malik but still she is indian.
& i am 100% sure she is spy for india. & game plan info she got form malik she must have told to ind team.— tahirkayani (@tahirkayani17) June 17, 2019
Because of all this, Shoaib Malik had to release a statement where he requests the local media and fans to maintain respect for their privacy.
On behalf of all athletes I would like to request media and people to maintain respect levels in regards to our families, who should not be dragged into petty discussions at will. It’s not a nice thing to do
— Shoaib Malik ?? (@realshoaibmalik) June 17, 2019
The Pakistani pacer Mohammad Amir has been in great form in this World Cup, yet he is too facing the wrath of the fans. In his tweet, he asked the fans not to abuse the players and keep supporting them.
Pls dont use bad words for the players yes u guys can criticise our performance we will bounce back InshAllah we need ur support ???
— Mohammad Amir (@iamamirofficial) June 17, 2019
Former players who themselves never won a World Cup match against India coming out with solutions on how to win a match against India. Shoaib Akhtar, in particular, has been very critical to the team’s performance. Even though he played against India in 2 World Cups (1999 and 2003).
Such a brainless captain.
Ye log bas Waahga border pe ja k chalaange maar skty han..Shoaib Akhtar burst out. pic.twitter.com/w4eAg1C6lB
— Extremist ?? (@hardcorefeminst) June 17, 2019
There are many more such incidents on and off the field especially after India’s match will easily make you believe that the Pakistani fans are not just humorous but ugly too in their behaviour.
